Last night I was at an engagement party with my faithful scooter under knee (I’d say “underfoot” but foot is not working yet!), and a few people stopped me and asked, “What? You’re still with that broken ankle? So long?”

Yes, people, it’s been over 6 months. Back in February I broke my ankle and have been through a long journey to get this foot working again. The good news is that my road to recovery is almost over! In a few weeks, I hope to have the cast off and look forward to beginning physical therapy, returning to my real job and getting my life back!

As a music therapist, I use music to help others achieve therapeutic goals. The past months, I became my own music therapist. I composed songs. I wrote lyrics. That’s one way that I coped. Hey, as much as I tried to see the silver lining,  it’s not easy being cooped up in a house reading, writing, and doing hobbies.

Sometimes you just have to sing! And so that’s what I did.

  WE LOVE MUSIC!

For those of you who don’t know much about the music therapy profession, there’s lots to read about music therapy and its benefits. I’ve been a music therapist for almost 20 years and I love what I do.

I’ve been inspired for many years by the singer and song-writer Jana Stanfield, who is a fabulous motivational speaker and concert artist. She’s not a music therapist, but she is a huge proponent of the profession, and even encourages music therapists to use her music in their sessions and singing engagements. She wants her music to be out there to help people.

I attended a workshop in lyric writing given by her many years ago and I have been purchasing, listening to and enjoying her various CD’s and music over the past 12 years. I believe her music helps people put common sense ideas for spiritual growth into music. And that’s a great thing for all of us, especially during these difficult and challenging times in the world and in our personal lives.

Here’s one song that she wrote which I absolutely love. As we go through life, we may feel lost at times and can’t find our way. But if we view ourselves as “exploring” rather than being “lost,” than we can see it as a positive action toward finding something special at the end of the road. Here’s the link to Jana’s clip to part of her  song: (click) – “I’m not lost; I’m exploring.”

If you want to buy any of her CD’s, pop on over here and grab some of those. They’re great.

So here I am, listening to Jana Stanfield’s  music, becoming inspired and itching to compose my own process, my own lyrics over her music. She encourages that, as I’ve said earlier. She gives permission to do that, because she wants people to learn and spread the value of her music.

Attached to this post is  the audio of the song, “The Great Puzzle.”  It’s about my journey with the broken foot and the subsequent recovery. My friend, Arthur Kaufmann of Magic Key Productions sings and records the music.

For more information about music therapy, please visit the music therapy website, http://www.musictherapy.org

– Lyrics by Miriam Hendeles, MT-BC; Lyrics adapted for instructional and sharing (non-profit) purposes to Jana Stanfield‘s  music –    “I’m Not Lost; I am Exploring”     (http://www.janastanfield.com) and   Jerry Kimbrough; (Used with permission for instructional purposes only).

-Vocals and Recording by Arthur Kaufmann of Magic Key Productions – Cedar City, Utah  (http://www.redrockrecords.com)

“The reason my co-writers and I write these songs is so that people will hear them, use them, and enjoy them. There are very few radio stations out there that play this kind of music, so please be our DJ’s.” — Jana Stanfield (on her website, 2012).

– Photos credit: M. Hendeles

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